Maffie and Crew Perform with Glen Washingston
March 10, 2010
By David Saba, Rastaboyz.com
Saturday March 13th is sure to be a hot night in the City of Vancouver. Legendary Canadian Reggae icon Glen Washington will be performing at the Hungarian Cultural Centre. Deejay's Patrick Mutombo, DJ Rexx and National Sound are charged with getting the party live, and then Mr. Washington will take to the stage backed by none other than Vancouver's Maffie and Crew. Maffie and Crew have a rock solid reputation for keeping the dance floor crowded and happy till the sun comes up. Performing together since 2002, Glen Washington must be impressed with Maffie and the Crew, because they played together last August, but at that show Maffie and Crew opened and now they're backing him. Comfortable playing Dancehall, Roots Rock Reggae, R and B, Zouke, and Soca, Maffie and Crew are a five piece band with all the players hailing from the Caribbean. They're fronted by Ulan "Maffie" Atwell. The posters for the show bill it as "The Return of Maffie and Crew".
Rastaboyz spoke with the ever versatile and prolific Maffie today and asked about "The Return". The band haven't performed live since last August but instead have been in the studio "working on original material". But they're "back and coming back strong". Maffie has also been producing material for other artists such as Sarah Karkouck and Zeyn Ali. But they seem eager to get out of the studio and back on the stage. They've backed high profile artists such as Winston Soso and Sanell Dempster, and Saturday's concert will be another opportunity for the band to represent by doing what they love. "We're looking forward to the show and we're looking forward to backing more international artists." Tickets are 30 dollars in advance and the show runs from 7PM till Dawn.
About Maffie and Crew
Maffie and Crew are a Vancouver-based party band that play Soca, Reggae Dancehall, and Zouke music. Incredibly talented and able to mash diverse riddims and flows into incredibly energetic shows, they are fronted by Ulan "Maffie" Atwell. Maffie, who is the lead vocalist, composer, arranger, and studio engineer for the band, has released numerous solo albums and performed at many Reggae and Caribbean festivals on the West Coast. He has gained international recognition for his music. His song "Pum Pum On Strike" reached number 4 on the top ten music charts in his homeland St. Vincent and the Grenadines and was one of the most popular Carnival tunes that year. All five members hail from the Caribbean. "The Crew" all contribute on vocals, but in addition Fando Bynoe handles bass, you can find Ivan Elva on the drums, the multitalented Renita Drakes is the saxophonist, and Ian Joseph rounds things out on the guitar. Maffie and Crew have two original albums available on iTunes. 2007's Grass Roots Reload Part 1, and 2008's Balance Reload Part 2. In addition to their original songs, they can cover (and well!) numerous popular musicians and singers. The lists of artists they cover at parties show just how versatile and wide-ranging their artistic talents are; yes they'll cover Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, but also Skinny Fabulous, Ben E. King and Akon, amongst others. Visit www.maffieandcrew.com to listen to Maffie and Crew and find out when they're playing near you.
Reese Badda releases Tear Drops Video
February 26, 2010
By David Saba, Rastaboyz.com
Toronto - Independent Canadian Dancehall Artist Reese Badda released the much-anticipated video for his single Tear Drops on February 23rd. Tear Drops is a song about temptation, specifically the sexy two-legged temptation that can be found in nightclubs late at night. The character in the song looses his wife after too many lies and a carelessly placed phone. Sound familiar? Tear Drops was recorded well before people heard of Tiger Woods' escapades though (which ironically became public knowledge because of a carelessly placed cellphone) but it shows how relevant the material is. We asked Reese about the inspiration for the song, was this a true story, perhaps about himself? He laughed and stated it's "Not for me." He said he's "conscious of those things happening in the scene", but that Tear Drops wasn't about any one person in particular. He said the message was that "If you have a good girl, stay true . . .and get out if you shouldn't be there." Reese is pleased with all the positive feedback he's been getting since Tuesday's release, and is already planning his next single which he says will probably be more of a club-type track. He's also planning on releasing his next mixtape, titled In The Future, in late March.
"Tear Drops" was produced by Magelantic Studios, who also handled Reese's last video, "Nah Lie". The video was directed by Omar Lord, and features fashion model Amanda Layne acting in the role of the wife. It was shot on location in Toronto and Brampton, including the nightspots Club Frequency in Toronto and The Place in Brampton.
The "Tear Drops" mp3 can be downloaded here on iTunes.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/tear-drops/id319967321?i=319967376
Click here to watch the video, or click the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl-0xeTrTGY
Behind the Scenes Tear Drops images can be viewed here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2041352&id=1021717398
About Reese Badda
From the freedom of the streets and clubs of Port Antonio, Jamaica, where he learned to dance as a youth, to the grime and hustle of Toronto as a young man, Reese Badda has always kept his eyes on the prize. A talented dancer, gifted with a silky voice and natural game, Reese Badda has a larger role to play in dancehall music. As a singer and producer Reese Badda is quickly gaining recognition for himself and his squad. For more information, visit www.reesebadda.com.
Deejay Avoids Serious Injury During Holidays
January 11, 2010
By David Saba, Rastaboyz.com
New York - Bentley Davis (known to his fans as Father Bentley) and his girlfriend Luquisha were lucky to escape with their lives after a serious motor vehicle accident on December 30th. The accident occurred in Brooklyn, NY in the early morning. Davis had entered the intersection of Beverley Road and Ralph Avenue when he was broadsided by a sedan speeding to beat a red light. The impact sent the deejay's sport utility vehicle crashing into a nearby utility pole, completely destroying the vehicle.
Mr. Davis told us that his doctor believes that were it not for his vehicle's airbag system both he and Luquisha would have faced serious, perhaps fatal injuries. Mr. Davis and Luquisha are still in pain and exhibiting signs of whiplash. The day we spoke to him he had spent the morning and better part of the afternoon in the hospital. Mr Davis, however, remains upbeat despite his diminished mobility and the loss of his SUV. He has already returned to the studio, and although he is expected to need physical therapy he is looking forward to his upcoming South African tour this spring. The dates and locations of this tour are expected to be finalized soon. Apparently organizers are in the process of securing the final performers from Jamaica.
About Father Bentley
Father Bentley was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He emigrated to the United States in his early 20s and started collecting reggae and dancehall music. As his collection grew he started selling mixtapes and eventually followed the natural progression to become a deejay. Father Bentley has earned positive recognition worldwide after 15 years in the business. For more information about Father Bentley please visit: FatherBentleyReggaeVibes.com
